China's top lawmaker Li Peng said in Beijing on Monday that China
set great store on developing relations with the European Union
(EU). It was keen to widen dialogue and cooperation with the EU in
economic, educational and scientific fields plus discuss the issues
of human rights and Tibet.
China's top lawmaker Li Peng said in Beijing on Monday that China
set great store on developing relations with the European Union
(EU). It was keen to widen dialogue and cooperation with the EU in
economic, educational and scientific fields plus discuss the issues
of human rights and Tibet.
Li, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's
Congress (NPC), made the remarks when meeting a European
Parliamentary delegation for ties with the People's Republic of
China, headed by Madam Elly Plooij-Van Gorsel from the
Netherlands.
At
Li's invitation, the 21-member delegation from various EU countries
will leave for the
Tibet Autonomous Region on Tuesday.
Sino-EU relations had been boosted over the years by frequent
political meetings at various levels, Li said. China valued the EU
's important role internationally, and saw its ties with the EU as
in the basic interests of both parties plus benefiting world peace,
stability and development.
"Because of different political systems, economic development and
cultural backgrounds, it is natural for China and the EU to hold
differing opinions on certain issues," Li said. China proposed that
both parties seek common ground in areas of contention through
better understanding and more dialogue as equal partners, he
added.
He
said he expected the EU lawmakers to learn at first hand the former
and current situation in Tibet, and how China's policies on ethnic
minorities worked.
Both Li and Madam Elly Plooij-Van Gorsel praised the regular
meetings between the NPC and the European Parliament. Exchanges and
contact between the two were vital for their mutual understanding,
Plooij-Van Gorsel said.
She said that the European Parliament admired China for the
successful reform of its economy and legal system, and would
continue to be interested in China's future development.
(Xinhua News
Agency July 9, 2002)